I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 31

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31
“Healing abilities are exceptionally rare, which makes the demand for them extraordinary.”
Fear of death is an instinct of all living things. The fervent demand for healing abilities had elevated House Lloyd—once a humble noble family on the Frontier—into an aristocratic power with roots in the Convent.
“I’ve heard the previous Count worked Ian terribly hard. With a healing ability appearing only once every two generations, it’s no wonder.”
Countless people sought out House Lloyd. At times, he would need to care for dozens of patients in a single day.
“Just as the human body deteriorates when its stamina is exhausted, so too do abilities. Using his power without respite, he grew progressively weaker.”
I recalled my father. His complexion had always been pallid. Beneath his thick cardigan, his wrists had grown skeletal. Weakened to the point where he could no longer heal himself, he eventually departed for recuperation.
“So he was preparing to go to the Southern Villa for recovery… but then, one of the mercenaries assigned to his escort was Veronica, and somehow…”
Kenneth trailed off, but from that point onward, the story was one I already knew. Two people whose eyes met. And I was the fruit of their love. Yet as I listened, one thing continued to trouble me.
“Healing.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re certain it was a healing ability?”
“That’s right.”
I covered my mouth, lost in thought.
‘There was no mention of an enhancement ability.’
I deliberately refrained from bringing up the enhancement ability with Kenneth. If my ability hadn’t been inherited, there was no reason to confess it to the Information Broker Network beforehand.
‘Then did Mother leave for revenge over what Father endured?’
If that were true, it would explain why Angela and Kenneth had tried to conceal the full truth.
They must have feared that I too would be consumed by vengeance and ruin my life.
Yet as Kenneth continued speaking, confusion only deepened. A single question filled my mind entirely.
‘Did Mother really abandon me for revenge?’
I had been so young then. Too immature to suppress the wild instincts of my beastkin nature, and terrified of being alone at night.
‘This is something Mother must handle.’
The day Veronica left came back to me. Ian had died, and she hadn’t slept properly since—her eyes hollow and vacant. Her lips parched and drawn. Her trembling hands stroking my back. She had been so deeply worried about me.
‘Could it really have been for revenge?’
My chest tightened with a nauseating sensation.
“Is it possible that Mother’s death was orchestrated by House Lloyd?”
Unable to hide my anxiety, I asked, and Kenneth answered immediately.
“They could be among the suspects involved in that incident, but that’s all. Because so many people were obsessed with healing abilities, the bounties placed on Ian and Veronica were astronomical.”
I nodded with a troubled expression and rose from my seat. For now, I needed to sort through my tangled thoughts alone.
“I owe you a debt. How should I repay you?”
Kenneth stood as well and waved his hand dismissively.
“Forget it. I couldn’t even provide proper information about Veronica, so taking payment would be shameful for an Information Broker.”
“Still—”
“I insist!”
With a boyish, refreshing smile, he narrowed his violet eyes and turned me by the shoulders toward the exit.
“The exit is this way, valued customer.”
He guided me with playful courtesy, and I relented, moving forward willingly. As we reached the door, Kenneth produced a golden badge from his pocket.
“This badge bears my credentials and affiliation. Should you ever need assistance or character verification, feel free to use it. With this, you should be able to secure loans easily through our Guild.”
I stared at the badge for a moment, then looked up to meet his gaze.
“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”
“What?”
Kenneth’s face went slack—he clearly hadn’t anticipated a refusal.
“Why?! This is genuinely valuable. I owe Veronica a debt of gratitude.”
“It was my mother who helped you, not I. I’m grateful for your kindness, but accepting it remains my choice.”
With those words, I grasped the doorknob without hesitation. Kenneth watched my retreating figure—so strikingly similar to Veronica—with wide, startled eyes.
“Understood. I was too hasty at our first meeting. But know this: if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be waiting, whenever that may be.”
I nodded and turned the handle. Beyond it lay what appeared to be the Market Back Alley.
‘How is this structure even possible?’
I’d descended into the Basement, yet I emerged at ground level. Blinking in confusion, I exchanged a final farewell with Kenneth before closing the door behind me.
* * *
“What is this power?”
The Basement fell silent once more as the door sealed shut. Kenneth gazed quietly at the hand that had touched Claire’s shoulder.
Though the Basement was enclosed, a wind centered on him tousled his dark hair roughly.
‘An ability I swore never to use.’
A latent power hidden away so long that wielding it now felt foreign. Yet the moment it made contact with Claire, it surged with tremendous amplification.
‘If this is Claire’s power, this is no trivial matter.’
Kenneth stared at the door through which Claire had vanished. He’d told her he possessed no information regarding Veronica’s death, but the truth was somewhat different.
‘The information is classified—access is impossible.’
Kenneth recalled the day, eight years prior, when he’d learned of Veronica’s passing. As an apprentice in the Information Department then, he couldn’t even retrieve her detailed records.
‘I clawed my way to branch director, yet nothing changed.’
Despite his frantic ascent, Veronica’s information remained a top-secret file—access still forbidden to him.
‘To seal information this completely, one would need at least······.’
His eyes narrowed.
“Veronica.”
Calloused, sturdy hands dragging a child from an iron cage. A face that appeared expressionless at first glance, yet concealed something rough and profoundly deep within.
Claire resembled Veronica in both appearance and essence. Though it had been over twenty years since Veronica last appeared—few would remember her—those who’d ever crossed paths with her would certainly recognize Claire.
‘Now that Claire has decided to step into the world, troublesome matters will inevitably follow.’
Veronica and Ian. The matters surrounding them were a hornet’s nest. One misstep, and venomous insects would descend from nowhere.
‘So I must protect her.’
Kenneth’s eyes gleamed softly. Until now, despite all his efforts, he’d been paralyzed by the helplessness of drifting further from the truth. But with Claire’s emergence, everything had to change.
A bear cub taking its first steps away from the nest into the world. Guarding her back would be the only way to repay his debt to Veronica.
‘Besides, I’ve grown rather fond of Claire.’
Kenneth recalled her resolute refusal of the golden badge and smiled silently. After a moment’s contemplation, he gathered the wind around him and turned to leave.
* * *
The next day, I resumed my duties as usual.
Though my position at House Voltier had shifted, leaving my work largely ceremonial, my mind had been churning with everything Kenneth told me yesterday—I couldn’t simply sit idle.
“Claire!”
“Yes, Miss?”
“Hehe.”
Isabella, whom I encountered in the Corridor on my way to Theodore’s Room, nestled into my arms with a bashful smile.
“You’re already awake at such an early hour?”
Isabella couldn’t answer immediately. She couldn’t admit that she’d had a frightening dream last night—one where I left forever—and had come out to wait for me in fear.
In Isabella’s world, the concept of permanence had never existed. Her parents had abandoned her far too easily, as had her Governess. Even her only brother had been kept from her, all because of his affliction.
“I just… I just woke up early! I just came out.”
Isabella swallowed her anxious worry and smiled. I gazed at that smile, which seemed strained somehow, and pretended not to notice as I replied.
“I see. Shall we head back inside now?”
“Yes.”
As Isabella nodded, I bent down and pulled the child into my embrace.
“Oh!”
As I straightened up, Isabella cried out in surprise.
“I’m too heavy!”
“Pardon?”
I looked at Isabella as though I’d heard something absurd. Despite using only one arm, I appeared quite at ease.
Momentarily flustered by this, Isabella simply buried her face against my shoulder.
Truthfully, it felt wonderful.
“No, never mind.”
“Then let us go inside.”
I felt Isabella fidgeting slightly in my arms, settling herself more comfortably. Against the warmth that had become so familiar by now, I found myself thinking.
I should begin preparing to leave soon.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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